Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA06121’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘KLECA06121’, characterized by its compact and mounding growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large deep purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLECA06121’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLECA06121’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Calibrachoa cultivars with compact and trailing plant habit, early and freely flowering habit, and unique and attractive flower color.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V 024, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V 052, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in May, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLECA06121 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLECA06121’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLECA06121’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large deep purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have violet-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in growth habit as plants of the female parent selection are trailing.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have blue-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the male parent are upright to trialing.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivar KLEC02059, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,817. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar KLEC02059 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of the cultivar KLEC02059.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as trialing as plants of the cultivar KLEC02059.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘KLECA06121’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 16° C. and light levels averaging 20,000 lux. Rooted young plants had been growing for about six months when the photograph and description were taken. Plants used for the description were grown in 12-cm containers and pinched one time one week after planting. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLECA06121. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V 024, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V 052, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C. to 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding growth habit;             moderately vigorous. Freely branching habit with about four             to five primary lateral branches each with multiple             secondary lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required.         -   Plant height.—About 7 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 19 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 1.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 mm to 10 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             137A; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 137C; venation, 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Relatively large salverform             flowers arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely             flowering habit with usually about 43 open flowers and             flower buds developing per lateral branch. Flowers not             persistent. Flowers face mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             throughout the summer in Germany. Plants begin flowering             about twelve weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower length (habit).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: 79A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Petal shape:             Obverse. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.             Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal,             when opening, upper surface: 83B; venation, 79A. Petal, when             opening, lower surface; 83D; venation, 79C. Petal, fully             opened, upper surface: 77A; venation, 79A. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: 83D; venation, 79C. Throat: 79A;             venation, 79A. Tube: 3A; venation, 163B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at base per flower. Sepal length: About 1.5 cm.             Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to             elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 138A. Color, lower surface: 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Erect to about 75° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: 11A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             11A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             6 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 150A. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Ovary color: 154A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 50° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA06121’ as illustrated and described. 